Resilient wheel



J. E. McROBERTS.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, I921.

1,4;34,%97, Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

Z SHEETS-SHEET l.

6 John E-ME: Ember 1'5 J. E. McROBERTS.

RESILIENT WHEEL APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1921.

1,434,459? Patented Nov. 7, 1922,

Juhn, RMuRmherTa Patented Nov. 7, i922.

lAMAQ'Z JOHN ELMER MOEOBERTS, OF PARK IA, IDAHO.

BESILIENT "WHEEL.

thereby to eliminate the dihiculty heretobetore experienced withpneumatic tires now in vogue such as blow-outs, punctures and the likewhich not only de ract trons the pleasure of automobiling but also addto the cost thereof.

Another object oi the invention is the pro vision of a novel automobileWheel constructed of steel and having incorporated therein spring meansfor absorbing shock, spring means being housed in a novel manner andprovided with a suitable rubber casing, whereby the contacting oiinetaiwith city streets is obviated.

it. still further object of'the invention is the provision of novelmeans for effectively lubricating various parts of the steel wheel so asto render the wheel absolutely nois less in use, the lubricating meansconsisting otnovelly disposed cups for receiving hard grease, and novelmeans ior permitting the packing of the said cups with grease.

the provision oi": an improved metallic spring wheel of: the abovecharacter which will be durable and efficient in use, one hat be simpleand easy to manufacture, and one which can be placedupon the market at areasonable cost. 7

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and .t'ormationof parts that will behereinafter more specifically described claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part oi:

this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved vehicle wheel.

Figure 2 is a diametric section through the same taken on the line 2-2of Figure l and illustrating the novel means of associa ing the hardgrease cups withthewheel for permitting the effective lubrication or allparts thereof.

in still further object of the invention is I i igure 3 is a sideelevation of the inner hu structure of the spring wheel and showmg meansfor associating the shock absorbing springs and the casing supportingheads with the said hub.

Figure i is a fragmentary section taken on the line of Figure 1illustrating the means or connecting the side plates of the tellystructure together and illustrating the means carried by the hubstructure for re ceiying said connecting means, and

I l igure 5 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of; a portion ofone of the retain- 111;; members carried by the telly structure forreceiving the casing.

Referring to the drawings in detail,

"wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, theletter A indicates the inner or hub structure; B, the outer or tellystructure; C, the novel means for supporting the telly structure by thehub structure tor absorbing shock; l), the casing carried by the tellystructure for engaging the ground; and E, the means for securing thecasing in place on the telly structure.

The tumor or hub structure A includes the axle or spindle box 10 whichis adapted to receive the circular side plates ll and 12. These plates11 and 12 can be connected at theirinner edges to the box 10 in anypreerred manner. The outer edges or the side plates 11 and 12 areconnected by an annular plate or wall 13 which can be formed relativelythicker than the side plates ii and 12 ii so desired. It is preferredthat the annular outer wall 13 and the side plates 11 and 12 be formedintegral but this is not necessary. It can be seen that the entire hubstructure is formed of metal and thus it can be seen that a durableconstruction will be had. I

The outer or telly structure B also includes metallic side plates 14 and15, which are adapted to slidably engage the outer face of the sideplates 11 and 12. The side plates lei and 15 extend beyond the peripheryoi": the outer or connecting wall 18 and have their outer edgesconnected together by the transversely curved circuinferentiallyextending wall 16. it desirable, the side plates leiand 15 and the wall16 can be formed integral. At the axial center of the plates 1%- and 15,relatively large concentric openlugs 17 are formed, so as to permit freemovement of the plates 14 and 15 without interfering with the axle box10 or the axle and parts carried thereby. The outer faces of the plates14 and 15 intermediate the r edges are provided with annular reinfoi ingribs 18, the outer surfaces of which line rest shoulders 19, the purpose\vhicu will be hereinafter more fully ClESCll-bctl.

The resilient means C for connecting the inner or hub structure A. withthe outer or 'felly structure B for absorbing shock consists of aplurality of relatively strong coil springs 20. The inner terminals ofthese springs are connected in any preferred manner to the outer wall 13of the inner or hub structure A. It is preferred, however, that theinner ends of the springs 20 be threaded as at 21, so as to permit thesaid ends to be threaded into openings 22 which are spacedcircumierentially around the outer connecting wall 13. Ttcan be seenthat this row of openings 22 is disposed intermediate the side edges ofthe wall 13. The outer ends of the shock absorbing coil springs 20haveconnected thereto semi-spherical shaped heads 23, which are adapted toengage'the inner face of the transversely curved con nectingwall 16 ofthe outer or telly structure B in order to permit the effectivesupporting thereol by said springs. The outer ends of the springs 20 canalso be provided with threads. for fitting in sockets 24 formed in thesaid semi-spherical heads 23. There can be as many coil springs 20 as isdesirable or applicable. This forms a simple means for supper .ing theouter telly structure and which permits free movement thereof inrelation to the inner or hub structure A.

In order to prevent the contacting of the; metallic wall 16 with theroadway, so as to obviate the noise which'wouldbe incident thereto, thecasing D is provided. The casingD can be formedot rubber suitablystrengthened by fabric or cord as well known in the art of tire casingconstruction. As shown, this D consists of an annular transverselycurved body 25 having the outer wall or tread 26 and the side walls 27.These side walls 27 are ot'such a length as to permit their inner edgesto fit upon the annular shoulders 19 defined by'the annular outstandingreinforcing ribs 18. r

The means E for holding the casing D in position consists orsemi-circularrings 30. These rings 30 have their outer edges providedwith inwardly extending teeth 31, which are adapted to bite into thewalls 27 of the casing D. If desirable, the inner edges of the walls 27may be provided with. beads 32, and the rings 30 adjacent to the teeth31 may each be provided with an annular groove 33 for the reception ofsaid beads. In order to hold the rings 30 in clamping engagement withthe. casing D, relatively short bolts 35 are provided. These bolts 35are carried by the reinforcing ribs 18 and have their heads anchored inthe same in such a manner as to prevent turning movement of the saidbolts. The

. bolt heads are disposed flush with the inner surt'ace of the sidewalls 14 and 15, so as to prevent the catching of the bolt heads on theinner surface of the plates 11 and 12. The rings 30 are provided withopenings 36 for the reception of the threaded terminals of the bolts 35and suitable nuts 37 can be threaded on the bolts 35. I

In order to facilitate assembling of the wheel, the side plates l l and15 of the outer or telly structure B are preferably formed in twosections and ll. These sections a0 and are substantially semi-circularshaped and in the placing of the portions of the retaining rings '30,the points of connections of the sections of said rings are placed at 90from the points of connection of the sections 40 and 41.

Transversely extending bolts 42 are provided for connecting the plates14 and 15 ether, so as to prevent the lateral bendthereoi in relation toeach other. These bolts extend all of the way through the wheel andinorder to permit free movement of these bolts with the plates 1 and 15,during the shifting of the outer or telly structure B, transverselyextending relatively large sleeves are provided. These sleeves l3 areplaced in suitable registering openings in the side plates'll and 12 ofthe hub or inner structure ll, and can be secured therein in anyvpreferred manner. The en 01" these sleeves: extend flush with theoutersuri' ace of the plates 11 and 12, so that the ends thereof willnot catch in the side plates 1d and 15 when thewheel is in use.

In order to render the wheel absolutely silent in use, suitablelubricating means F'is provided, and this lubricating means F forms animportant part of the invention.

The lubricating means F consists of a plurality oi cups'SO, which arecarried by and extend transversely. of the inner orhub SJIUClJUIQ A.These cups are in the nature of sleeves, inasmuch as the opposite endsthereof are left open. The cups are inserted in suitable openings 51formed in the side plates 11 and 12', ofthe hub or inner structure A andsecured therein in any preferred way. The side plate 15 of the outer ortelly structure 13 can be provided with suitable removable plugs 52,which permit the introduction of grease into the said cups. The cups 530are packed with hard grease and when the wheel is in use, the movementof the plates 14- and 15 in relation to the plates 11 and .12 willeiiectively lubricate the side faces thereof. 7

It is also des l is that the in which the sprin 2O oi ate also be tilledor part] v filled with hard grease and the plate adjacent to the outerperiphery thereof can also be provided with removable plugs 53, whichwill permit the introduction of hard grease into the space occupied bythe springs when the casing D is removed.

It is to be noted that the portions of the retaining rings perform adual function; first, for retaining the casing D in position; andsecond, for retaining the sections and ll of the side plates 14 and 15in place in relation to one another. The retaining of the sections 40and 41 in place by the sections of the retaining rings 30 isaccomplished by arranging certain of the bolts carried by the annularribs 18, on opposites-ides of the meeting edges of the sections 40 and41 of the said plates 14: and 15.

Thus it can be seen that the sections of the rings 30 will bridge oroverlie the meeting edges of the said sections so and in use of theimproved wheel, free move ment of the hub sect-ion it in relation to theouter or telly section B is permitted by the spring 29 which willeffectively absorb all shock and all noise due to the contacting oiparts of the metallic wheel will be obviated owing to the eli'ectivemeans provided for lubricating said parts.

Changes in details may be made Without departing from the soirit orscope of this invention; but,

I claim:

ll. In a resilient metallic shock absorbing wheel, a hub structureincluding a pair of side plates, a connecting outer annular wall for theside plates, an axle spindle box carried by the axial center of saidplates, an outer telly structure including side plates consisting ofsemi-circular sections, the sections of the plates being connectedtogether by an outer transversely ciu'ved wall, resilient meansinterposed between the outer walls of the hub and 'felly structures, acasing receiving the outer face of the telly structure, sectionalretaining rings for the casing, annular strengthening ribs formed on theside plates of the telly structure for receiving said rings,

bolts carried by the last mentioned side plates when extending throughthe rings, means carried by said bolts for engaging said rings to holdthe same in position, the terminals of the sections of the rings beingdisposed at quarters in relation to the edges of the side plates of thetelly structure, and

teeth formed on saidretaining rings for engaging the casing.

2. in a resilient metallic shock absorbing Wheel, a hub structureincluding side disc shaped plates, an annular connecting outer wall, aielly structure including spaced side plates and an annular transverselycurved connecting outer wall, resilient means disposed between saidouter walls for absorbing shock and for holding the hub structure inconcentric. relation to the telly structure, transversely extending hardgrease receiving sleeves carried by the side plates of the hubstructure, the terminals of said sleeves extending flush with the outerface of the plates of the hub structure whereby the grease will bepermitted to escape from said sleeves during the use of the wheel, andremovable plugs carried by the side plates of the telly structure forpermitting the packing of hard grease in said sleeves.

3. In a resilient metallic wheel, a hub structure, a plurality ofradially extending coil springs having threaded shanks formed on theterminals thereof, the inwardly threaded shanks being connected with theouter face of the hub structure, an outer felly structure includingannular side plates and a connecting transversely curved annu-- larouter wall for connecting the outer edges of said side plates, the sideplates of the felly structure engaging the sides of the hub structure,and semi-spherical solid heads carried by the outer threaded shanks ofthe springs engaging the inner periphery of the annular transverselycurved connecting Wall for the side plates of the telly structure.

JOHN ELMER MOROBERTS.

